I want to continue fighting on behalf District 17 residents for smaller and smarter state government. I’m also committed to family-values legislation that strengthens the moral fabric of our state.

A number of unsolved issues remain for our constituency, and I am committed to continue working to find solutions. For example, H3003 is a bill I’m trying to get enacted that would protect our children and teenagers against pornography and human trafficking. The bill would require all internet devices sold in South Carolina to come with pornography filters. Laws exist in all fifty states that protect minors from seeing pornography in brick-and-mortar stores; this type protection should be extended to protect children in the digital realm. Following my lead, thirty-five other states are considering this same legislation.

Another issue is protecting public assets statewide from private takeovers, like has happened with GHS. For example, Clemson University, the Ports Authority, or your local fire department are public-owned assets that could similarly be taken out of public control.

Biography

Mike Burns is a businessman from Travelers Rest who has represented District 17 in the S.C. House of Representatives since 2013. He and his wife, Anne, have four children and five grandchildren. A 1974 graduate of The University of South Carolina, Burns has created five businesses during his career. He is a member, Sunday School teacher, and treasurer at Enoree Baptist Church, and is a board member for the Davis-Lar International Orphanage.

A search of court records revealed Burns is a plaintiff in an ongoing civil case against Greenville County Council regarding increases to telecommunications and vehicle tag fees passed with a 7-4 vote in 2017. Burns said he opposes the increases because they are unfair to Greenville residents and violate a county ordinance that requires a majority nine out of 12 votes to pass.